The Scarlet Dress: The brilliant new novel from the bestselling author of The House By The Sea Paperback – Big Book, 18 February 2021

NOT A BAD READ. JUST NOT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I DIDN'T ENJOY IT ALTHOUGH I READ IT UNTIL THE END. I FOUND THE ENDING RIDICULOUS.

Louise Douglas is a new author to me and her genre might be described as a cross between thriller, women's fiction and gothic romance. I really did enjoy The Scarlet Dress despite it being a bit of a break from my normal reading. In it, the body of a woman (Alice) missing for twenty-five years, is uncovered when renovation work is done at the holiday park beside which Marnie (the central character who is apparently mute since Alice disappeared) lives. It becomes clear that Alice was murdered and alongside Will (an old friend who returns to the small town after hearing the news) Marnie begins to piece together the events of the fateful night Alice was killed.I thought this was brilliantly written, swinging between the events from twenty-five years before and the present day. The story was compelling and hard to put down and I found myself thinking about the characters long after finishing the book. If you enjoy vivid descriptions, evocative prose and a load of intrigue, this one's for you!

Caution spoilers for those who haven’t read this yet!!Reads like an episode of Midsummer Murders meets Rebecca.Bits rather repetitive such as Alice’s hippy persona, yes I get it, don’t keep stressing the point.Also at the beginning the author keeps bringing up the bridge; so you think it’s going to be significant; it isn’t.The end felt rushed, and the part were they’re all potentially gassed just odd.All in all, not one is read again.

Beautiful book, couldn’t put down. Love this authors books, read all of them now.

Can you spot the problem? 24 pages missing!!!! Goes from 140 to 165!!!